How to Find the Right Senior Caregiver

Imagine the perfect caregiver for your loved one – someone who is flexible, experienced, compassionate, and committed. This person may be difficult to find, but is nonetheless out there.

Guide to Finding the Right Senior Caregiver

To ensure your loved one’s needs are met, provide the agency or nurse registry with as much information about your loved one’s needs as possible. Take into consideration his or her physical and mental abilities, emotional needs, and the frequency in which care is needed. Doing so will bring you closer to finding the perfect caregiver and peace of mind you’ve been waiting for.

Analyze Your Loved One’s Condition and Abilities

How capable is your loved one in terms of his or her mental and physical abilities? This will determine the level of care that is needed and the skill set or qualifications required by a caregiver. Ask yourself the following questions:

Is your loved one mentally alert, but physically incapable of performing certain duties around the home?

Does your loved one suffer from dementia or mild cognitive impairment?

Will he or she need assistance with household chores (laundry, cleaning, meal preparation) or other homemaking duties?

Does he or she need assistance managing and administering medications?

Will he or she need transportation to and from medical appointments, running errands, etc.?

Does he or she need assistance with physical activities or prescribed range of motion (ROM) exercises?

Consider Your Loved One’s Personality and Emotional Needs

Many seniors find themselves isolated from the community and their peers due to a lack of mobility and/or transportation. Without socialization and emotional fulfillment, the risk of depression increases greatly. Consider the following questions to find a caregiver who not only has the right experience and qualifications, but who can also fulfill the emotional needs of your loved one:

Is your loved one outgoing or more introverted?

Will he or she need constant socialization and attention?

Does he or she often have a positive attitude?

How is his or her energy level?

Think About the Frequency in Which Care Is Needed

Before reaching out to a home health care agency or nurse registry, put together a tentative schedule of care, estimating how much time will be required each day, week or month. This will help determine not only the cost of care, but also the availability of a caregiver – especially if your loved one prefers to work with the same caregiver each day. Here is a list of some of the most common caregiving situations and timeframes:

Contact Sonas for Home Care Services in Florida

At Sonas Home Health Care, character and compassion matter. Our referral coordinators, in conjunction with our intake department, use their expertise to match clients with warm, qualified and compassionate caregivers and will only refer a caregiver who has the necessary experience and disposition to fulfill your loved one’s individual needs. If for any reason your family is not 100% satisfied, we will arrange for another caregiver – no questions asked.

Contact us directly to speak with a home health care professional or request a free consultation. Together we can determine the right plan of action for your family and match your loved one with the “perfect” caregiver.